LAREDO, Texas – For the second consecutive series, Texas A&M International (20-12, 13-7 LSC) welcomed a top five opponent in #5 UT Tyler (25-5, 19-1 LSC), but it was the Patriots taking both games of the twin-bill. In game one, the Patriots collected a total of 13 hits en route to a 9-1 victory. In game two, UT Tyler's offense continued to click, defeating TAMIU 19-0.
 
Game 1: #5 UT Tyler 9, Texas A&M-International 1 F/5
 
UT Tyler wasted no time opening the scoring, putting up two runs in each of the first two innings.
 
In the first, the Patriots were the beneficiary of a two run home run, then in the second inning, received an RBI double and an RBI groundout.
 
UT Tyler chased Dustdevil starter, sophomore Erika Cortez (10-6), after 1.1 innings and allowing four runs, five hits, one walk and a strikeout.
 
TAMIU chipped away in the bottom of the second when junior Briana Arredondo belted a solo home run, her 10th of the season, to left field to make the score 4-1.
 
The Patriots got the run right back in the top of the third to make it 5-1, when a sacrifice bunt moved the runner at second to third and on the play at first, the Dustdevils committed an error to push the run across.
 
UT Tyler then brought four runs across in the top of the fifth inning to take a 9-1 lead that gave the Patriots the run rule victory. A two RBI double to make it 7-1 was followed by another RBI double and an RBI single.
 
In relief, junior Denise Longoria threw 3.1 innings, allowing five runs (four earned), seven hits and two walks. Sophomore Paige Sasser finished the game throwing 1/3 inning and allowing a single hit.
 
Offensively, senior Morgan Chavarria and junior Heather Ruiz joined Arredondo to make up the only three hits on the ledger.
 
Game 2: #5 UT Tyler 19, Texas A&M International 0 F/5
 
In game two, the Patriots again opened an early lead, scoring five runs in the top of the first.
 
The initial run scored on an RBI single, and was followed in the inning by an RBI double, two more RBI singles and a run crossing on a caught stealing play.
 
Four more runs came across for UT Tyler in the top of the second, highlighted by a three run home run.
 
In the third and fourth innings, the Patriots added 10 runs to make the score 19-0, before being blanked in the fifth inning.
 
Senior Melanie Lint (0-1) started the backend of the doubleheader and in threw one inning, allowing five runs, five hits, one walk and one strikeout.
 
Junior Darrian Smith, freshman Chelsea Salinas, senior Miranda Martinez and sophomore Paige Sasser combined to pitch the remaining four innings.
 
Offensively, Ruiz and senior Shelby Edwards combined for the two hits in game two.
 
TAMIU now looks to put the short skid behind it as they hit the road for two conference doubleheaders and a non-conference matchup. The weekend begins with a three game series in San Angelo, Texas against Angelo State. The conference doubleheader begins at 4 p.m. on Friday, April 16 and a single non-conference matchup is set for Saturday.